A celebration of the daily triumphs and tribulations of researchers everywhere

Ripple effects of science funding

Funding research supports much more than just great research. Image: asterisk.apod.com

The Australian election is looming and promises for funding are being thrown around in all directions including at science. But this money can’t be banked on. Asking for credit with a promise of repayment as soon as 1) Candidate A gets elected and 2) they fulfil their election promises is unlikely to fly. At least not with any reputable broker.

Most of research funding depends on the whims of governments. And if government doesn’t fund research, businesses will. As soon as businesses fund research, however, any results are often deemed biased and dismissed, regardless of how stringently the research was conducted. The conflict of interest cannot be overlooked.

Which points the finger back at the government. Research is in the public interest – it is the public who ultimately benefit from the results after all – and it needs to be funded by independent bodies. Which are ultimately funded by taxes. And nobody likes taxes.

But funding research has many other benefits that are worth the tax. Most obviously it provides jobs for researchers and, being a researcher, this makes me very happy. But also the process of doing research provides employment for many more non-researchers from all areas.

Here are some of the people employed directly or indirectly by research funding.

Finance managers, HR managers, payroll officers – No point getting funding if there’s no way to manage it, nor if there’s no way to get staff and pay them. Basically research doesn’t happen without a solid admin team.

IT gurus – Science, like most other industries, needs IT. Particularly for managing so many different instruments as well as all the data and communications throughout the business. Research grinds to a halt as soon as the network stops working, making on-hand IT staff invaluable.

Equipment suppliers, manufacturers, primary producers – Science needs stuff. LOTS of stuff. From everywhere. This includes glassware, solvents, gloves, little plastic tubes, printer paper and sticky tape. To get all these different items, we need people who supply them. And people to make them in the first place and people to get the raw materials for the manufacturers to make the stuff.

Communications managers – Scientists do good science but few do good talking. Anyone skilled in communications is an essential asset for any research industry to let people know the outcomes of the research and manage any media interest that may come about. Best not to let untrained researchers into that space.

Receptionists, research administrators, managerial assistants – These are the key go-to people for getting things done, organising paperwork, managing meetings and communal resources. Important activities that always take more time than expected. Having staff dedicated to handling this sort of thing allow for more efficient research.

Food providers, including cafes, food vans, supermarkets and fast food chains – OK, this one might be stretching the boundaries, but research like other businesses employ people and people need food. This gives opportunities for local eateries and food manufacturers, particularly those that provide good coffee. The vending machine guy at my work also does a roaring trade alongside the steady stream of charity fundraiser chocolates that are readily available and readily consumed.

Whether it be for applied science projects, as is the focus of the Innovation Boom, or for fundamental science projects that produce the necessary scientific knowledge for the applied projects to actually work, funding research provides community-wide benefits.

This includes employment and income for people across a broad range of industries, not just for scientists, as well as the benefits that come from the results of that research.